Flintshire

Family life changed for many in Flintshire between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, health and work life.

The population passed 150,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Flintshire increased by 2.6%, from just under 149,000 to 153,000.

The addition of just over 3,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Flintshire was home to, on average, 2.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Flintshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Flintshire increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This rural area had a lower average age than Amber Valley, a statistically similar local authority area (43 years of age) and had a similar age to the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 5,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 5,000.

About 13% of people in Flintshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Denbighshire and Flintshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Welsh language in Flintshire

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Flintshire fell from 14% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 884 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 4,442.

In nearby Denbighshire, 25% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 26% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More single people in Flintshire

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in Flintshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Powys and Monmouthshire.

During this period, Flintshire fell below to become the Wales local authority area with the seventh-lowest percentage of single people.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) people aged 16 and over in Flintshire said they were single, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 55% to 50%.

The largest decrease occurred in Powys (from 25% to 28%) followed by Monmouthshire (from 23% to 26%).

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Flintshire that rented privately increased from 6.4% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Flintshire households that owner their home decreased from 75% to 73%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to Denbighshire (from 12% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 8.6% to 14%.

Private renting in Flintshire increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Flintshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.8% to 5.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Flintshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to Denbighshire (from 12% in 2001 to 7.3% in 2011). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Flintshire decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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